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12-15-2018, 03:19 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 52
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Toad pulling
I've been pulling a grand Cherokee jeep for 2 years on long trips out West. It's been trouble free for over around 10,000 miles. I've checked my tire tread and there has been no wear on the front tires. When I tow I leave the steering locked straight. My question is this the correct way to tow. My friend leaves his in neutral with the key on and pulls a fuse.
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12-15-2018, 03:22 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Where I happen to land
Posts: 2,529
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Steering should be allowed to turn. That said, the Jeeps I am familiar with do not lock straight ahead.
__________________
John and Debi
2008 Beaver Contessa, 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee,
28 years retired Fire Captain Tales of the Muttley Crew
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12-15-2018, 05:26 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,723
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Like John said, your steering needs to be able to turn.
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Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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12-15-2018, 05:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Where I happen to land
Posts: 2,529
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What year grand Cherokee? Our 2005 was easy as far as the steering. Out in neutral, turn of, remove key, done. But the steering wheel doesn't lock.
Most cars DO lock though.
__________________
John and Debi
2008 Beaver Contessa, 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee,
28 years retired Fire Captain Tales of the Muttley Crew
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12-15-2018, 05:35 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
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I don't think our 2014 locks.
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Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
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12-15-2018, 05:35 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,723
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I'd have to assume Shoemaker's is the same, otherwise he would have noticed something strange happening in 10,000 mi of towing.
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Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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12-15-2018, 05:40 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Where I happen to land
Posts: 2,529
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide
I'd have to assume Shoemaker's is the same, otherwise he would have noticed something strange happening in 10,000 mi of towing.
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True.
__________________
John and Debi
2008 Beaver Contessa, 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee,
28 years retired Fire Captain Tales of the Muttley Crew
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12-15-2018, 08:55 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,670
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If your steering wheel was locked?. You would bend/break your tow bar the first time you proceded to turn your deal.
As suggested by others here if you double check you will find that your steering wheel doesn't lock ...many newer vehicles do not lock because with all the computer electronics today there are many other ways to deter theft that are much less costly to apply and less intrusive.
Happy Trails
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2004 HR Navagator 500 ISM
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12-15-2018, 09:21 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Lake Havasu City Arizona
Posts: 358
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I tow a Suzuki Samurai and I did not like laving the key in the ignition so I took apart the key mechanism and disabled the locking device. Now I can tow with the doors locked and no keys in the ignition.
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Tim and Barbara Foster
2008 Monaco Diplomat 40 PDQ
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12-15-2018, 09:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,723
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I found a simpler method. Use the spare key FOB to lock the doors .
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Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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12-15-2018, 09:33 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Where I happen to land
Posts: 2,529
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide
I found a simpler method. Use the spare key FOB to lock the doors .
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That's we we do!
On our Colorado (dumped the Jeep), I installed the Roadmaster disconnect solenoid. Even if they got in, good luck finding the switch to turn power back on.
__________________
John and Debi
2008 Beaver Contessa, 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee,
28 years retired Fire Captain Tales of the Muttley Crew
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12-17-2018, 04:06 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Phoenix, Oregon
Posts: 2,207
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RobRoy
If your steering wheel was locked?. You would bend/break your tow bar the first time you proceded to turn your deal.
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It would probably depend on the tow bar and toad, but I accidentally towed our Tracker several times with the steering locked with no apparent damage. Most were very short, but once was for about 30 miles and around a couple of cul-de-sacs.
All were noticeable because the tires screetched some on corners and the toad kept the TC from tracking straight. On the longer distance for some reason I didn't notice the screetching, but kept wondering why it didn't track straight. I stopped at the first large parking space we came to and checked everything over until it finally hit me, duh!!
I may have had other things on my mind then because we had just visited a close friend whose wife had terminal cancer. She passed away later that year.
I probably got away without damage because the tow bar I use is a non-folding A frame type and the Tracker is pretty light.
Steve
__________________
1994 30' Monaco Dynasty, 5.9 230 HP Cummins, MD 3060, 1992 Geo Tracker.
1996 Dodge Cummins 2500 with 1996 Lance 945 camper
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12-17-2018, 04:53 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,920
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I used to tow a '99 Suburban that did have steering lock. I forgot one day to unlock it, and towed it about 150 feet up to a diesel pump. It shredded the tires because it was a tight turn to get onto the pump, and the tires still showed the marks (new tires at the time) until I sold it this fall.
If the OP had locked steering, after 10,000 miles the fronts would have pretty severe tire wear on the shoulders. I don't think it would tear the tow bar apart.
Ive managed to tow it 10 feet without putting it in neutral. Oops.
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Paul
2006 Patriot Thunder C13 Allison 4000
2010 Ford Flex Ecoboost AWD
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12-17-2018, 05:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,670
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dix39
It would probably depend on the tow bar and toad, but I accidentally towed our Tracker several times with the steering locked with no apparent damage. Most were very short, but once was for about 30 miles and around a couple of cul-de-sacs.
All were noticeable because the tires screetched some on corners and the toad kept the TC from tracking straight. On the longer distance for some reason I didn't notice the screetching, but kept wondering why it didn't track straight. I stopped at the first large parking space we came to and checked everything over until it finally hit me, duh!!
I may have had other things on my mind then because we had just visited a close friend whose wife had terminal cancer. She passed away later that year.
I probably got away without damage because the tow bar I use is a non-folding A frame type and the Tracker is pretty light.
Steve
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Agreed!....and you made my point, that is that the front tires won't follow the tow vehicle if the steering is locked.
You were lucky and got away with only destroying your toad steer tires at a very rapid pace.
Try that with a folding tow bar and Chevy Suburban the results won't be so forgiving.
Sorry about the loss of your friend
Happy Trails.
__________________
2004 HR Navagator 500 ISM
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